ISLAMABAD, Pakistan -- An ambush by Islamist rebels Wednesday killed at least 16 Pakistani soldiers patrolling a northwestern region near the Afghanistan border.
Military officials said at least 13 other soldiers were injured in the firefight and several guerrillas were killed, although exact numbers weren't immediately clear, a BBC correspondent reported.
The fighting occurred in the tribal area of North Waziristan, considered by U.S. intelligence officials to be a hotbed for Taliban and al-Qaida insurgents, CNN said.
Since last week, attacks on the military and police have killed at least 79 people in the region and tribal peace accords with the government have been scrapped, the report said.
Most recently, a suicide bomber killed three soldiers and a civilian in the region on Tuesday night.
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